SA Champions Cup teams should ignore negative comments: Mbonambi

“I don’t think everyone is negative about it and I don’t think all the French players are negative about it,” Mbonambi said before their Champions Cup game against Bordeaux on Friday.

“I think only one article I read about it was Dupont, who said once South African teams are introduced to the European Cup it’s no longer European to them, whatever that means from him.

“We just have to make sure we come and do our best.

“If it means we make it uncomfortable for them [the European teams] and some players, it is part of rugby. It has become an international sport and we are here to make the best out of the competition.”

The Sharks made a good start to their Champions Cup campaign as they defeated the Harlequins of England by 39-31 in Durban at the weekend.

“It was a good start [but] there's a lot that we can improve on. I must say the whole hype about it was really [embraced] from my side, and as a team we enjoyed ourselves out there,” Mbonambi said.